The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master

It had been a week since then.

Seoul, which had been torn to shreds, began to see its real estate prices plummet.

The people close to me told me I didn’t need to feel guilty about that.

Thanks to them, I managed to shake off that uncomfortable feeling a little.

However, that was only the opinion of those around me. It didn’t necessarily represent public opinion.

On Earth, citizens of Seoul would get furious even if a simple sinkhole appeared in the neighborhood, all to stop the news from spreading.

The reason? If it made the media, housing prices dropped.

From their point of view, a sinkhole was a man-made disaster, whereas Kali Yuga was a natural disaster.

If you get strict, the second shouldn’t cause complaints. When a tsunami strikes, are you going to blame the sea?

You can criticize the government for not responding properly, but blaming the sea—that’s just a waste of time.

My family and those close to me thought the same as I did.

But for those who suffered the disaster firsthand—that is, the citizens of Seoul—their opinion might be different.

And it was only natural that they harbored negative feelings toward me.

In fact, during the chaos caused by Kali Yuga, groups unhappy with me had already been identified.

And to top it off, I had used both Kali Yuga and all of Seoul as the stage for a showdown.

On top of that, all of it had been broadcast nationwide at some point.

‘It wouldn’t be strange if they took it out on me.’

If in Seoul they raised hell even over a hole in the street, it wasn’t very likely they’d say:

“Ah, I see! Sir Heavenly Sword only wanted to protect us! That makes sense!” and nod along.

Even the people close to me expected a pretty negative future.

But they were all wrong.

Even the most prestigious intellectuals had gathered to analyze the situation, but the outcome waiting for us was one no one had predicted.

***

“Geom-Ma.”

Ryozo shared her opinion with me privately.

“From the start, we’re already stuck at the stage of convincing them that Kali Yuga was a natural disaster.”

Since that day, she had been working nonstop in every sense. Most of her tasks were related to cleaning up the disaster.

“Both you and Yu Sein already explained everything in detail, so we understand, but it’s very likely neither the public nor ordinary heroes will accept it. Since we’ve already decided the government will handle this in coordination with us, we just have to pacify public opinion.”

“Do you have any ideas in mind?”

I asked while rubbing my bruised eyelid with an egg.

Ryozo had called me to the director’s office, and when I arrived, I saw a basket full of eggs on the table.

“No.”

She answered in a dry, withered voice.

That cold look wasn’t directed at me. It was a veiled warning for the protest groups that would soon begin to appear.

“Geom-Ma, if you apologize, it’ll be like admitting you’re guilty. You’d be saying I’ll be the scapegoat. And that’s exactly what Kali Yuga wanted, isn’t it?”

She was right. Ryozo rarely got things wrong.

“The citizens of Seoul are looking for a target to dump their resentment on. For now they’re quiet, but if not tomorrow, soon protests and chaos will begin. And if you show up at that moment…”

“Everything will spiral out of control.”

“So don’t.”

This had nothing to do with being irresponsible. Ryozo insisted many times afterward that I bore no blame for what happened.

Being an adult was exhausting.

Back in my student days, many things were overlooked with the excuse of being young.

But now that I’m a recognized hero, a famous figure, and also someone who gets paid, plenty of people must be desperate to find some excuse to bring me down.

And for those impatient dogs, I, Kang Geom-Ma, was the perfect target.

After all, I had every ingredient to make them hate me.

— I’m a special ascended.

— I get along terribly with nobles.

— There are citizens who oppose me just for existing.

That last reason, actually, was because of my family members. Anyone would feel bitter when faced with such an imposing woman—and it wasn’t just one, I had two wives!

Even I would get jealous if it were someone else.

And besides.

‘Ryozo, she…’

She really implied that, if it was for me, she was ready to face the entire world.

“You just worry about spending time with father. It’s been a long time since you saw him.”

By “father,” she meant the Master.

He almost officially became “father” after Rachel started calling him that, but—

— But Geom-Ma, your parents… back when I was still director…

Media cut her off with a single comment.

And at that moment, the Sword Master shone with his wit.

— He’s Kang Geom-Ma’s father.

— …Father?

— It’s said he spent a long time training in isolation in Gehenna. At the time, he even supervised my swordsmanship practice.

— But he looks way too young…

— So what if he does? Age doesn’t matter if you can learn something. Even from a three-year-old child.

— Look, coming from someone else maybe, but you, you old grouch, I don’t buy it at all.

…It was a clumsy excuse, but it worked pretty well. My family and friends bought it.

They, upon seeing a single black hair, completely surrendered. If they thought someone shared my blood, they melted with affection.

Even with Yu Sein, or with Chaerina, my old companions couldn’t help falling for it. This already felt like a religious cult.

The master, who until recently had been beating me to a pulp, fell silent as soon as the Sword Master glanced at him. He didn’t say anything, which was his way of agreeing.

It seemed that, since it wasn’t that important a matter, he decided to overlook it.
He didn’t like lies.

— And with that, I don’t want to hear that nonsense again about him being your disciple.

It seemed there was some sort of “deal” between them too, but when I asked, both the master and the Sword Master completely ignored me.

How sad.

‘Tch.’

Ugh.

What I tasted in my mouth wasn’t just bitterness—it was the taste of blood!

‘Even if you’re an old grouch, this is too much!’

How could he do this to me, his son he hadn’t seen in years?

I licked my swollen lips.

Ryozo smiled sweetly at me and handed me another egg.

“This one’s organic.”

“…Ah, I see.”

What a strange way to put it.

“The swelling will go down soon, right?”

Her comments were completely disconnected.

“If you need more, tell me. I can even rent out an entire farm.”

“…”

“What? Did you want to say something else?”

“No, it’s just that…”

I toyed with the egg in my hands, searching for the right words.

“About the gang boss—I mean, my father. Aren’t you going to say anything about him beating me up?”

“Oh, please. You call that a beating? That was family education. E-du-ca-tion.”

I wanted to ask if she thought seeing my swollen, bruised face every time I looked in the mirror was part of a lesson.

I was starting to doubt her qualifications as an educator.

Maybe she noticed my suspicious expression, because she turned her chair. She gave me her back and spoke while looking out the window.

“Father’s right. Two wives are enough. Even if it’s not legally an issue, adding more could cause conflict. He’s right, he really is. A wise man.”

“But I… don’t have any intention of taking more wives.”

“And yet, you haven’t been clear with Rachel or with the former director. That’s the same as giving them hope. Do you understand?”

“Hmm.”

“Anyway, Geom-Ma. I’d like you to talk more with your father. I heard you hadn’t seen him in more than ten years. Listen to him more, learn more… and take more hits.”

“Hmm?”

Hits?

Did I hear that right?

“Today’s the 13th, so see you tonight.”

I was practically kicked out of the director’s office. I walked dragging my feet, thinking.

Maybe today I can actually talk to him a little?

‘Though the others won’t leave him alone…’

And since it had been so long since I last saw him, I also felt a bit uncomfortable.

Step, step.

Walking aimlessly, I soon arrived home.

I took a deep breath and opened the door.

The scene was exactly the same as yesterday. I stood on the threshold, unable to step inside.

‘This is a disaster.’

They didn’t even notice I had arrived.

“Father. Was everything in order at noon today?”

Rachel bowed with an elegant curtsy, imitating a noble young lady from a prestigious family.

The master, who at first seemed reluctant, was now resigned.

“Rachel. Why do you give me that formal bow every hour?”

“To earn your favor, father.”

“Haha. I don’t even know what to say to something so honest. You’re so transparent it’s scary.”

“I’m flattered.”

“It was supposed to make you feel embarrassed.”

Leaving that aside, lately the internet was in an uproar. Rumors were spreading that the founding hero had returned.

The problem was, they weren’t baseless—they were very well-founded.

I had to ask the master about it,

“Fatheeeer!”

Like now, he never gave me the chance.

“It’s ready~!”

A honeyed voice flew toward the master. Media, wearing an apron, placed a dish with a purple substance in front of him.

“Here you go.”

“…Lady Media.”

The academy’s first director, using honorifics with the former director.

According to background, the masterwas younger than Media.

That she was an ancient was already an open secret.

Since she had a sense of age different from normal humans, Media looked like she was in her twenties. The master, on the other hand, was in mental conflict.

“How can she look like she’s in her twenties if she’s lived more than eighty years?”

He thought, horrified.

‘When is he going to reveal he’s Balor Joaquin? If this keeps up, the family tree will get way too tangled.’

Although he would reveal his identity later, for now we had to maintain this facade.

In many ways, we’re a dysfunctional family. The fact that this is my family is a sad reality.

Hehehe.

“I told you to call me more casually.”

Media waved her hands with an awkward laugh.

“Then I’ll speak casually. What is this?”

“Your lunch.”

Whoa! Just seeing it made my chest shiver.

“It was my father’s favorite dish.”

Finally, the reason Victor Poison, the previous president of the Association, had turned into a lunatic was revealed. It also explained his constant suicide attempts.

It was because he lived threatened with being poisoned daily.

“…This looks like something I saw in Gehenna. Like something an unknown monster vomited after eating the wrong thing.”

“You mean it’s an exotic dish!”

“Did your group cast some kind of spell on Kang Geom-Ma? That guy’s power isn’t hypnosis, but…”

While the master shook his head, he noticed me.

At last he saw me.

“Hey, you!”

The chair he was sitting on crashed to the ground. I turned around immediately.

I felt a sharp chill and fled without hesitation.

“You brat! Stop!”

The master chased me with the sashimi knife in hand.

“Would you stay still if you were in my shoes?”

“What kind of madness did you pull in my homeland, huh? Did you get the Blessing of some hypnosis app?”

“Please don’t change the genre of Blessing of the Apocalypse M 2nd!”

“You bastard!”

A peaceful day, at last.

***

A while later.

“…That’s how it happened.”

I had escaped to the Sword Master’s temporary shelter.

As an extra note, I managed to evade the master’s pursuit by activating the “Blessing of the God of the Sword.”

The bald man had rejuvenated and ran with great agility. Since my lightning magic had been confiscated, I had no other choice.

“I see.”

The Sword Master frowned with pity.

Abel brought some tea.

“Drink. It will calm your unsettled heart.”

“Thanks.”

“Hehe, well. Father is incredible, no doubt, but this…”

The Sword Master cleared his throat as he chose his words.

‘He’s the only person besides me who knows the master is the founding hero.’

That’s why he had made his temporary residence my hiding place.

Also because, seeing my pitiful state, he had extended me a warm hand.

With his one hand, he patted my back.

“Is all this difficult for you?”

“I’m fine. I’ve gotten used to it.”

“Living as a renowned hero, there comes a point where one questions humanity as a species. Sometimes, in an almost heretical thought, one thinks demons are more understandable.”

In his deep golden eyes, I found comfort.

Because it was me.

Because I was Kang Geom-Ma, his words resonated in my chest.

“It’s absurd, isn’t it? That demons, a completely alien species, seem easier to understand. That’s how misunderstood a savior hero is destined to be.”

“Thank you.”

“No need.”

The Sword Master leaned a little closer to me.

“After all, you only have me, don’t you?”

“…Huh?”

“After all, am I not your only master?”

What’s this? I felt a chill.

‘Looking at him again…’

In his solemn eyes shone a golden madness.

I’d seen it before.

Possessiveness. Greed. Obsession.

“I am your master. Don’t forget it.”

…Maybe Kali Yuga’s magic really did have some effect.